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Phil Kessel’s trade value debated

On Wednesday, the Star&rsquo;s Damien Cox argued it&rsquo;s time for the Leafs to part ways with their top scorer. Thursday, the hockey world responded.

Is it exit, stage right for the Leafs' Phil Kessel? If so, Brian Burke is unlikely to recoup what he paid to get him, NHL insiders say. (Graig Abel / GETTY IMAGES)

By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter

Thu., March 15, 2012

Phil Kessel’s trade value certainly hasn’t gone up the way, say, stock in Apple has the past two months.

But Kessel and his 30-plus goal game might rate as a potential piece in a Rick Nash trade, or a first-round pick for a team that may have disappointed in the playoffs and is in need of scoring.

Those were the opinions of NHL insiders and GMs when asked about Kessel’s trade value. The Star posed the question Thursday following a provocative column from the Star’s Damien Cox that argued it’s time for the Leafs to part ways with Kessel.

There were, for certain, differing views on Kessel’s value.

Former Leafs GM and current talk show host Gord Stellick said Kessel still has value despite a landslide of negativity following the Leafs over their current 17-game slide out of the playoffs.

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“I think you can look at Paul Gaustad at the trade deadline going for a first- rounder, a late first-rounder, and go from there,” Stellick said.

“You can look at Mike Richards and Jeff Carter changing teams, and those are two significant players, so yes, I think Kessel’s got decent value there.”

Bill Watters, another former Leaf executive, felt it would be very difficult for Kessel to attract equal value to the price the Leafs paid for him — two first-round picks and a second-rounder.

“To get the value already invested in the acquisition would not be a realistic consideration,” Watters said.

“This player (Kessel) is considered (by the Leafs) to be a franchise player and there’s not a team in the NHL, I think, that would give up a similar player for him … so you’re making a sideways deal at best.”

One GM, whose team is not in playoff contention, concurred with Watters.

“What would I give up for him? … I’m not giving up my best players for him, I can tell you that, and I’m not giving up my first-rounder, my best young player, if that’s what you are getting at,” he said.

“To be perfectly honest, and I don’t mean this in any way, shape or form as disrespect (to the Leafs), but I don’t think (Kessel) is a player most teams need on their roster.”

A second GM said he “could see possibly a team in need of goal scoring … inquiring about (Kessel). You have to think it’s going to take a player and a first-rounder, at least, I think, that’s where an offer would start.

But “you can look at a team like … maybe San Jose, if they don’t make the playoffs and they start thinking they need a change. Kessel goes there and gives them 30 goals … who knows.”

Stellick agreed that “there’s a lot of people out there (in Leafs Nation) who are upset with the club, and they think he’s (Kessel) worth nothing …but if you’re in a situation where, say, you have to give up a first- or second-round pick for Phil, and you’re drafting 25th … I’d jump at that deal in a heartbeat for Phil Kessel.”

Still, skepticism abounded regarding Kessel’s value.

Another insider looked at it this way:

“Is he the type of player Randy Carlyle will put up with? Well I can tell you whether he is or not, Randy better get used to playing him 20 minutes a night because I don’t see him going anywhere. And I don’t know if the market for a Phil Kessel is big enough right now to warrant a deal, there would have to be something pretty magical coming back there for (Burke).

“I know that Brian wanted a lot for players he tried to trade (this season). So you have to figure he’d want a lot for Kessel. … But do you give up two players, a first-round pick, and another pick … that to me is a ransom and I don’t think it gets done.

“But he’s one of the Leafs’ best players and to me, cap is not an issue here … the cap may go up close to $70 million (U.S.) this summer (in the new CBA), so there’s room if a team wants him.”

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